LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 7:24, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who builds his house on the rock.”  Jesus

Jesus also said that if a person had faith the size of a mustard seed, a person could move a mountain (Matthew 17:20). John writes in his gospel about a nobleman whose son is near death. He must have faith that Jesus can heal his son. Whatever amount of faith he has he makes an effort to find Jesus. The nobleman travels from Capernaum to Cana of Galilee to “implore Jesus to come to Capernaum and heal his son” (John 4:7). Jesus rebukes him saying people need signs and wonders to believe. The man is persistent and repeats the need for Jesus to come with him. With that Jesus tells him to go; his son is healed.

The point is the need for Believers to exercise what faith they have, even if it is a small amount. I hope I’m not stretching anything here but the man went to Jesus. Believers exercise their faith when they go to Jesus in prayer. The man had received news that his son was near death. His only hope was to go to Jesus and plead for Him to come to heal the son. The nobleman must have heard what was being said of Jesus’ ability to perform miracles. Those of even little faith, today, must exercise that faith through prayer.

After the second time the nobleman urgently requested Jesus come with him, Jesus told him to, “Go your way; your son lives”. I wonder what made the nobleman “believe” this statement because he no longer asked Jesus to go with him; John writes, “he went on his way”. John writes that the nobleman believed, he trusted that his need had been granted him. On his way home, he met those coming for him and heard that his son had been healed at the precise time Jesus said he was.  I can only believe that the nobleman’s faith had grown considerably from when he had left to find Jesus. It had grown so much that he and his entire household believed in Jesus.

There are probably those who receive great faith when they receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. But most Believers are only spiritual “babies”. Their faith must grow as they walk the narrow way.  Each Believer grows in their faith as they diligently seek more, as they “hunger and thirst for righteousness, they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).  As they ask, seek, and knock, they are going to find and receive. As one’s faith grows, it comes with a peace that nonbelievers and the world do not understand. As faith grows, one begins to “step out” in that faith using it to perhaps help others.

I believe that the nobleman did just that and becomes an example to Believers to be diligent about seeking the Lord Jesus in our prayer time. Our faith is built and strengthened by being in God’s Word – reading/studying/meditating on it and by spending time with Him in prayer. That takes us to the verse from Matthew. Believers grow in their faith when they do the things Jesus says to do in His Word and in our prayer time. Practice or do what He tells you to do as you read His Living Word found in the Bible. As you do, your faith will only continue to grow. The nobleman took Jesus at His word and his faith grew. I believe that is good for each of us today!